2018-19 NBA season preview

It takes LeBron James only 20 minutes to get from his home in Brentwood to the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo each morning, a feat that might be more impressive than his eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances given Los Angeles traffic patterns.

There was a time early last season when Steve Kerr, the coach of the best basketball team in recent NBA history, stood in front of his squad and laid out the truth about the next eight months.

The diameter of the orange rims inside the Toyota Center in Houston is big enough that two regulation-sized basketballs can slip through the hoop at the same time.

A look at how the Western Conference teams match up (with predicted order of finish): 1.

Everywhere outside the gymnasium is calm. Next door is an empty, perfectly manicured soccer field.

A look at how the Eastern Conference teams stack up (with predicted order of finish): 1.

Last week, when former Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal thought back to the legacies of Phil Jackson and the late Tex Winter, he remembered the routine.

After five dim seasons, the Lakers added one of the biggest basketball stars in the world to their roster.

Patrick Beverley wasn’t searching for anything specific when he walked into the bookstore this summer.

Danilo Gallinari lives near the beach in a city he loves where the weather is ideal and he is paid $21.5 million to play the game of basketball.

Five biggest questions surrounding the Clippers entering the 2018-19 NBA season: Can the Clippers stay healthy?

The King headed West, where Golden State reigns supreme, leaving a big hole to fill in the East.

Making some rapid-fire predictions as to what will happen this season in the NBA.

Adjusting to the rule changes the NBA has implemented for the 2018-19 season was challenging for players and coaches during preseason games.

A look at the key dates for the 2018-19 season: Monday: Rosters set for opening day, 2 p.m. PDT.